Tracy Chabala

Los angeles, CA USA

Professional Experience

Snappy and witty freelance writer covering the culinary arts, food, travel, science, tech, mental health and addiction. Strong ability to shift voice to fit specific publications. Very creative, resourceful, fast-working and flexible. Meets deadlines and well-organized.

Expertise

Writer
15 Years

Specialty

Food
3 Years
Health
1 Year
Science
1 Year

Industries


Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
5 Years
Newspaper - Local/Regional
3 Years
Other
3 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

15 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

LA Weekly (10+), After Party Magazine (10+), Smashd (3-5), LA Times (3-5), USC Chronicle (1-2), Los Angeles Magazine (1-2), Muscle and Fitness Hers Magazine (1-2), Salon (1-2), Serious Eats (1-2)

Other Work History

Assistant Photo Editor, Men's Fitness Magazine; Editorial Intern, Los Angeles Magazine

Technical Skills

Basic page design and photoshop; Basic photography skills

Foreign Language Skills

Basic Spanish

Computer Skills

Word, OS 10, Windows 8.1, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Wordpress

Equipment

Laptop,

Showcase

Tech

IT'S ROCKET SCIENCE
(Smashd.co 5/27/2015)
Profile on a millennial aerospace engineer who's shifting spacecraft Cassini's orbit near Saturn. Contemplates how NASA might engage Generation Y.

Food Writing

What Did Gluten Every Do To You?
(Tracy Chabala 5/20/2015)
Let's start with what gluten is. It's a protein-not a toxin, an acid, a free radical, a carcinogen, or a form of arsenic. It's a protein that's dormant in wheat and wheat flours.
Spago's Pastry Chef Masters the Art of Calm
(LA Weekly 4/30/2015)
Profile for LA Weekly 2015 People issue on Spago Beverly Hill's Pastry Chef Della Gossett. Highlights her unique art and teaching background, describes her culinary philosophy and her stunning desserts.
Cooks Don't Call In Sick But They Might Start
(LA Weekly 1/25/2015)
Explores the new Healthy Families Healthy Workplaces Act in California and how restaurant owners and chefs can accommodate sick cooks. Brings up questions about pay, labor shortages and ethics in the hospitality industry.
Ikea, a place to get shelves, wine glasses -- and free breakfast
(Los Angeles Times 1/9/2015)
IKEA serves up free breakfast on Monday, with turkey sausage, eggs and potatoes. The place gets packed--a testament to the food insecurity of Angelenos.
The Millennial Menu
(Smashd 5/18/2015)
Explores the unique dining habits of millennials--they'll try anything from kimchi-dressed tacos to raw octopus. Why is Gen Y considered the Foodie Generation? For starters, they value experiences more than material goods. Their Gen X parents played a role.

News

When a Priest Starts Breaking Bad
(After Party Magazine 4/3/2015)
A priest has been caught running a meth ring and faces some substantial jail time.
From Russia With Moonshine (and cleaning products)
(After Party Magazine 4/2/2015)
Putin has an alcohol crisis on his hands. Russians are now home-brewing moonshine and even drinking cleaning products to get their buzz on, now that they've raised the minimum price on legal booze.
Pot Edibles Give Cops Something To Chew On
(After Party Magazine 5/28/2015)
The people are eating weed, and cops aren't on the scent. They're going to have to pull out the canines to keep up with all the pot stuffed in everything from marshmallows to lollipops.

Science

The Cuddle Hormone That Can Kill Your Buzz
(After Party Magazine 3/16/2015)
Scientists discover oxytocin not only bonds you to a lover or child but also can sober you up better than a cup of Joe.
The Brain Protein that Can Blunt Binge Drinking
(After Party Magazine 3/20/2015)
Scientists discover a protein in the amygdala that, when tweaked, can cut the craving for alcohol

Creative Writing

The Queen Baby - Novel
(Self 5/23/2015)
This is a story of an ugly college freshman who's obsessed with Justin Justin Justin, a boy we never see in real time. She trips over time (and perhaps her own sanity?), stumbling into younger versions of herself, and winds up at the executioner